Module 2 - Mondrian

Module 2 - Abstract Art - Mondrian

Background Information:

Mondrian had a series of paintings, the Transatlantic Paintings 1935-1943, that he initially created while in Europe, but made final modifications to the paintings after moving to New York, at the peak of his career, prior to his death in 1944.

The term “transatlantic painting” refers to a group of 17 works that Mondrian started (and in some cases finished) in Europe between 1935 and 1940, and finished (or refinished) in New York after his arrival there in the fall of 1940. Many of Mondrian’s works crossed the ocean during his lifetime, but the seventeen transatlantic paintings are the only ones he worked on in both Europe and America. And since his art was undergoing a profound change in New York, they have a kind of split personality, which is reflected in Mondrian’s decision to inscribe two dates on each one of them.

Mondrian Composition With Red, Blue, Yellow 1937/42

Digitized Transatlantic Versions from Andrzejewski et al.

Mondrian's paintings are recognized as having aesthetic visual balance[ 2]. Mondrian's writings suggest that he used horizontal and vertical geometric elements, along with primary color / grayscale, to convey concepts of universal relationships, dynamic forces in opposition, such as: internal-spiritual-nature / external-earthly-nature, negative/positive, unity/multiplicity, male/female, etc. We can observe some of Mondrian's process in his refinement of the transatlantic paintings.

"Vertical and horizontal lines are the expression of two opposing forces; they exist everywhere and dominate everything; their reciprocal action constitutes ‘life’. I recognized that the equilibrium of any particular aspect of nature rests on the equivalence of its opposites."
"The colored planes, as much by position and dimension as by the greater value given to color, plastically express only relationships and not forms. ”

Overview

In this assignment, you will select a Mondrian artwork from his Transatlantic Paintings collection as your inspiration piece. Then you will select a set of opposing concepts to represent. Finally, you will write 3 simple programs using Processing create 3 versions of a mondrian-style artwork, based on your inspiration piece, that show balance / imbalance of this concept pair. Mondrian has another series of paintings, his Lozenge

Create 3 Processing different programs to show:

Balanced composition that shows dynamic balance between 2 concepts.
Create an imbalanced composition that shows a domination of 1 aspect of the opposing pair of concepts.
Create an imbalanced composition that shows domination of the opposite aspect of the concept pair.
Optional, Process:
What are the dimensions of your selected inspiration artwork.

References

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Background Information:

The term “transatlantic painting” refers to a group of 17 works that Mondrian started (and in some cases finished) in Europe between 1935 and 1940, and finished (or refinished) in New York after his arrival there in the fall of 1940. Many of Mondrian’s works crossed the ocean during his lifetime, but the seventeen transatlantic paintings are the only ones he worked on in both Europe and America. And since his art was undergoing a profound change in New York, they have a kind of split personality, which is reflected in Mondrian’s decision to inscribe two dates on each one of them.

Mondrian Composition With Red, Blue, Yellow 1937/42

Digitized Transatlantic Versions from Andrzejewski et al.

"Vertical and horizontal lines are the expression of two opposing forces; they exist everywhere and dominate everything; their reciprocal action constitutes ‘life’. I recognized that the equilibrium of any particular aspect of nature rests on the equivalence of its opposites."

"The colored planes, as much by position and dimension as by the greater value given to color, plastically express only relationships and not forms. ”

Overview

Create 3 Processing different programs to show:

Balanced composition that shows dynamic balance between 2 concepts.

Create an imbalanced composition that shows a domination of 1 aspect of the opposing pair of concepts.

Create an imbalanced composition that shows domination of the opposite aspect of the concept pair.

Optional, Process:

What are the dimensions of your selected inspiration artwork.